Storyline: Brad Ausmus isn’t a great manager. He needs players to play well for him to win games. And that’s exactly what’s happening right now. Written by Leslie Monteiro, Fort Lee, NJ.
Courtesy: USAToday.com
It could have been easy for the Detroit Tigers to quit on Brad Ausmus.
It would have been tempting for the organization to fire its beleaguered manager when the Tigers came home last week after losing 11 of 13. But the Tigers stayed the course. They gave him one more chance to salvage himself.
The Tigers swept the hapless Twins. His players came through.
Now, after the Tigers’ 5-4 victory over the Phillies Monday night, Detroit has won 7 of 8. That’s good enough to get the team to .500 at 22-22. That streak probably has Ausmus off the firing line … at least for awhile.
Ausmus has earned the opportunity, too. His players haven’t quit on him and there aren’t many replacements available for a new man, like Lloyd McClendon, Omar Vizquel or Gene Lamont–at least none who would make a big difference.
That’s not to say that Ausmus is a great manager. He’s far from it. He’s an average manager at best, far from being a difference-maker. He needs players to play well for him to win games. And that’s exactly what’s happening right now.
Giving him credit now gives him too much credit. And blaming him during the losing streak heaps too much blame. It really comes down to the players and how well they play.
Courtesy: rantsports.com
The one thing going for Ausmus is that his players play for him. That showed during this homestand. And it showed last year when the Tigers were spiraling downward. Then and now his players defended Ausmus by blaming themselves for the team’s problems.
Often, when a manager is about to be fired, the players decide that a new voice is needed and they go through the motions until the new manager arrives. That’s not the case with Ausmus. They know he has put his heart and soul into his job. They know he has given them a chance to succeed. He hasn’t given up on his guys, even if it’s tempting to bench players, like the struggling Justin Upton.
The players see that and they respect it. It helps that Ausmus was a player himself. Despite struggles as a hitter his managers would play him because of his defense. That made an impression to him, so he wants to do the same thing for his players.
Ausmus relates well to players. He shoots straight with them. He communicates well. He was hired for those reasons. It’s why he was a good managerial prospect in the first place.
Courtesy: freep.com
Personality and relationships matter in sports. Having a manager/players partnership is an integral part of a team’s success. But it doesn’t guarantee much. It still comes down to wins and losses.
Ausmus needs the Tigers to make the Playoffs. He may even need the team to win a playoff series. He also has to show he can develop young players. like James McCann, Daniel Norris, Michael Fulmer, Drew VerHagen. Otherwise he won’t be a manager long-term.
It remains to be seen if Ausmus can do that.
Ausmus was fortunate to get an opportunity to manage. Now he has to make the most of what is probably his last chance in Detroit.
